As part of events to commemorate its 35th anniversary, the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) has launched a weeklong Health Week campaign, spotlighting nutrition, healthy living, and physical wellness.
The activities kicked off on Tuesday, May 20, with an engaging health talk hosted at the FICAN Secretariat in Lagos. Leading the session was renowned dietitian Chimah Patience, who addressed members on the topic: “Healthy Living: Making Food Work for You.”
From early life to old age, she noted, eating is a constant in human existence. However, how food is chosen, prepared, and consumed determines whether it becomes a tool for disease prevention or a trigger for long-term health problems.
“Eating is a lifelong activity, but the benefits depend on how we handle food. When meals are balanced and correctly timed, they nourish the body. When misused, they cause harm,” Patience said.
Balanced Meals and Timely Eating
The dietitian emphasized the importance of structured meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — while discouraging late-night eating and random snacking. Adults, she advised, should have lighter dinners and avoid meals less than two hours before bedtime.
Snacking between meals, she warned, contributes to obesity and elevated cholesterol levels, two major risks for heart-related conditions.
Food Group Essentials
Patience broke down the building blocks of a healthy diet into key food groups:
- Carbohydrates: rice, bread, yam, maize, cereals
- Proteins: meat, beans, fish, eggs, milk
- Fats: palm oil, butter, vegetable oil
- Vitamins & Minerals: leafy greens, cabbage, lettuce, and other vegetables
She reminded participants that no single food contains all essential nutrients, except breast milk during the first month of life — reinforcing the need for diverse, well-combined meals.
Four Conditions of Healthy Meals
Patience outlined four conditions every healthy diet must meet:
- Nutritional Needs – These vary by age. Children and teens require growth-supporting nutrients like calcium and protein, while adults need more vitamins and minerals for regulation and maintenance.
- Healthful Content – Meals should provide nutrients without posing health risks. While fast food may fill hunger, it often lacks long-term nutritional value.
- Disease Prevention – Good nutrition can help prevent infections in infancy, anemia during pregnancy, osteoporosis in menopause, and chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension in adulthood.
- Avoiding Modern Pitfalls – Highly processed foods, saturated fats, and excessive sugar characterize the modern diet and contribute to many lifestyle diseases.
“Fresh fruits and vegetables,” she said, “have the greatest potential for preventing and even reversing disease. They are nature’s medicine.”
Cooking Matters — and So Does Joy
The talk also highlighted the impact of food preparation. Overcooking, she said, destroys valuable nutrients like proteins and vitamins. She encouraged consuming raw vegetables like cucumbers when possible and avoiding smoked or overly roasted meats.
Importantly, Patience encouraged attendees to cultivate enjoyment in eating healthy.
“Learn to enjoy healthy foods,” she said. “If you choose wisely and consistently, healthy eating becomes effortless and satisfying.”
Capping It Off with a Community Walk
FICAN’s Health Week will conclude with a group WALK scheduled for Saturday, May 24, designed to promote physical activity and reinforce the message of total wellness.
Speaking on the initiative, FICAN Chairman [Insert Name] commended members for embracing the wellness campaign.
“We report on finance and development, but we must also focus on our health. A strong body supports a sharp mind,” he said.
The Health Week is one of several events lined up to celebrate FICAN’s 35 years of contribution to financial journalism in Nigeria.
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